[CQ-Contest] NAQP CW - DXCC Prefix for NA Countries Question

[Mike Bettencourt]

Received clarifying responses from a few folks. Thank you.  P.S. - That was a typo by me regarding 4U_ITU. I meant 4U_UN. My mistake. 

> On Jan 2, 2025, at 12:40 PM, Mike Bettencourt <mike.w1nv at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I apologize in advance for the noob contest question. I’m sure this is easily answerable for most of you in the know, but I wasn’t able to easily locate any clarifying information elsewhere.  I’m hoping to mess around a little in the upcoming January NAQP CW contest. Upon reviewing the rules and the sample log the NCJ site provides, it left me with a remaining question on some of the correct NA DXXC entity abbreviation/prefixes to be used for the contest. Thanks in advance!
>  
> The rules state:  "For other North American entities please use the standard DXCC prefix for the country in the received location field in your log. See multiplier list included with sample paper logs."  However, upon reviewing the NCJ's multiplier list, https://ncjweb.com/NAQP-Paper-Log-Form.pdf, I noticed a few interesting prefixes. My understanding is that the NCJ is instructing or recommending the participants use their provided prefix list. However, the NCJ's supplied list (sample log) seems to somewhat conflict with the ARRL's current/updated DXCC prefix list found here:  https://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/2022_DXCC_Current.pdf. The NCJ appears to infer that the lists are the same, and even tells you to use the “standard DXCC prefix for the country” but there are some slight differences between the two lists on just a few entities. I must be missing something. 
>  
> For example:
>  
> UN HQ - The NCJ's DXCC prefix list shows "4U1/u" whereas the ARRL list denotes "4U_ITU".  I know their call sign is 4U1UN, or it's at least one of theirs, as I've worked them a number of times. 
> 
> CUBA - The NCJ's DXCC prefix list just shows "CM" whereas the ARRL list denotes both "CM" and "CO."  
> MEXICO - It appears as if the NCJ list is instructing contesters to use "XE" for all Mexican states (except to use XF4 for Revillagigedo).  However, the ARRL list denotes "XA" through "XI" for DXCC entity prefixes and even "XA4" through "XI4" for Revillagigedo.  And no, I don't plan on making contact with Revillagigedo during the contest (#25 DSCC most wanted), I'm just using it as an example. I'm going to assume I just use "XE" for all Mexican states but the different listings made me do a double take.  
> I think the above bulleted list pretty much covers the conflicting prefixes, at least for me. The rest of them seem to have been a general match between the two lists. 
>  
> Can anyone clarify the above? Better yet, does anyone have a definitive, current and accurate prefix list other than the sample NCJ sample log that provides a little more clarity? Or, should I just use what the NCJ provided, knowing that will likely pass muster, and ignore everything else, which is what is simplest and what I'm leaning towards. I just wasn’t’ sure if some of the Q’s would get stricken if the country prefix is not exactly what the log verifiers are expecting. I don’t expect to really have many conflicts, if at all. I’m just interested in knowing the correct entry information. 
>  
> Thanks in advance! - Mike, W1NV
>  
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